China Published 20 Million Copies of Bible
2004-03-09 12:58
China has published more than 20 million copies
of the Holy Bible in
the past two decades and the Bible become one of the most popular
books in the country since the beginning of the 1990s.
"The publication volume fully comply with the needs of China's 10
million Christians and four million Roman Catholics," said Feng
Jinyuan, a research fellow at the Institute of World Religions under
the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
Feng said Christian scriptures from the Old and New testaments have
been published in over 20 different versions, including English
editions with Chinese translations, Chinese editions in traditional
and simplified characters, editions in ethnic minority languages and
in both portable and desk forms.
Moreover, Professor Feng noted, eight million Hymnals have been
published since 1983.
The works are published and distributed by the Shanghai-based
Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches
of China and the China Christian Council.
Meanwhile, China has published a large number of works relevant to
the Bible and Christian culture since the country introduced reform
and opening-up polices in the late 1970s, said Feng.
He went on to say that a dozen editions of Stories of the Bible have
been published, with the total number of the books sold quite likely
surpassing sales for the Bible.
"The country's economic disparity has created diversity in terms of
culture, ideology and beliefs," said Feng, adding that "publication
of the Bible at least to some extent contributed to
diversification."
Moreover, a number of universities have set up Bible Studies as a
required course for students majoring in politics, art, philosophy
and literature, according to Feng.
A recent survey conducted by the National Situation Research Center
under the CASS shows that the Bible has ranked 32nd on the list of
the most influential books in the country since the early 1990s.
Nevertheless, generally speaking, religion exerts less influence
upon the Chinese people than on the people in the West. But as a
matter of fact, an increasing number of Chinese students traveling
abroad and the expansion of cultural and scientific exchanges
between China and the outside world have sparked a trend towards the
growing influence of religion on young people, said Feng.
Chinese women, most of whom live in rural areas in east and central
China, account for some 60 percent of the nation's Christian
population. In addition, many individuals with higher education
backgrounds follow Christianity, with a number occupying leading
positions in the National People's Congress, the National Committee
of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and
various government departments.
(January 28, 1999 )
the past two decades and the Bible become one of the most popular
books in the country since the beginning of the 1990s.
"The publication volume fully comply with the needs of China's 10
million Christians and four million Roman Catholics," said Feng
Jinyuan, a research fellow at the Institute of World Religions under
the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
Feng said Christian scriptures from the Old and New testaments have
been published in over 20 different versions, including English
editions with Chinese translations, Chinese editions in traditional
and simplified characters, editions in ethnic minority languages and
in both portable and desk forms.
Moreover, Professor Feng noted, eight million Hymnals have been
published since 1983.
The works are published and distributed by the Shanghai-based
Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches
of China and the China Christian Council.
Meanwhile, China has published a large number of works relevant to
the Bible and Christian culture since the country introduced reform
and opening-up polices in the late 1970s, said Feng.
He went on to say that a dozen editions of Stories of the Bible have
been published, with the total number of the books sold quite likely
surpassing sales for the Bible.
"The country's economic disparity has created diversity in terms of
culture, ideology and beliefs," said Feng, adding that "publication
of the Bible at least to some extent contributed to
diversification."
Moreover, a number of universities have set up Bible Studies as a
required course for students majoring in politics, art, philosophy
and literature, according to Feng.
A recent survey conducted by the National Situation Research Center
under the CASS shows that the Bible has ranked 32nd on the list of
the most influential books in the country since the early 1990s.
Nevertheless, generally speaking, religion exerts less influence
upon the Chinese people than on the people in the West. But as a
matter of fact, an increasing number of Chinese students traveling
abroad and the expansion of cultural and scientific exchanges
between China and the outside world have sparked a trend towards the
growing influence of religion on young people, said Feng.
Chinese women, most of whom live in rural areas in east and central
China, account for some 60 percent of the nation's Christian
population. In addition, many individuals with higher education
backgrounds follow Christianity, with a number occupying leading
positions in the National People's Congress, the National Committee
of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and
various government departments.
(January 28, 1999 )